Steering handle adapter for a camera dolly

ABSTRACT

An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly includes a first part and a second part attached to the first part in a way that allows for angular adjustment between them. This allows the steering handle to be aligned or squared up relative to the dolly chassis. The first part may be an adapter base and the second part may be a riser. The adapter base may have a flange with slotted holes alignable with holes in the riser. Fasteners, such as cap screws, extending through the slots and holes, may be loosened to allow angular movement between the adapter base and the riser. Once properly aligned, the fasteners are tightened. Grooves, openings, pins, or similar engagement features may be provided at the top end of the adapter base, to allow a steering handle to attach to, and to rotate with, the adapter base. A bore may extend through the adapter base and the riser, with a fitting on the riser adapted to engage with a steering system in the camera dolly. When installed on a camera dolly, the adapter allows the steering handle to align as desired. The adapter also raises the steering handle up, to allow for ergonomic use by a taller dolly operator.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/247,804, filed Oct. 1, 2009, and incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is camera dollies and camera pedestals.

In the production of motion pictures, the motion picture camera mustoften be moved from one position to another. The camera movements mayrequire a change in camera position, camera angle, or camera elevation.The camera movement must be performed smoothly, as even small amounts ofvibration of the camera can result in unsatisfactory filming, due toshaky or erratic recorded images. For certain film sequences, the cameramust be held in a fixed position. In other film sequences, the cameramust be continuously and rapidly moved to follow an action or movingsequence. Similar requirements must often be met when using televisioncameras.

Camera dollies and pedestals have long been used to support and movemotion picture cameras. Typically, a camera dolly has four wheels orpairs of wheels on a chassis having a generally rectangular wheel base.The wheels may be attached to the chassis via articulated legs, or thewheels may be directly pivotably attached to the chassis.

Typically, the camera dolly has a steering system which steers thewheels of the dolly. A steering handle at the back end of the dolly isturned by the dolly operator to steer the dolly wheels. Newer cameradollies allow for shifting between corrective, crab and round steeringmodes by turning the steering handle. This design allows the dollyoperator to shift between modes with both hands on the handle, whilealso simultaneously pushing and steering the dolly. However, due to thesteering system design, shifting between steering modes can only occurwhen the steering system is at a zero degree position. In the zerodegree position, the steering handle is nominally perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the dolly.

Ordinarily, the steering handle remains aligned with the steeringsystem. However, certain adverse events, such as collisions, shippingdamage, etc. can cause the steering handle to become misaligned with thesteering system. As a result, shifting between steering modes can onlythen occur with the steering handle displaced from the zero degreeposition. Accordingly, the operating feel of the dolly is degraded.Shifting between steering modes by dolly operator is also disrupted.Re-aligning the steering system requires that the dolly be returned tothe factory or to a repair depot.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedcamera dolly that allows for quick and easy re-alignment of the steeringhandle with the steering system.

The camera dolly is typically pushed over the floor by one or more dollyoperators. Even a smaller camera dolly may weigh 120 kg or more. Inaddition to the payload weight of the camera, the dolly may also beloaded with batteries, lens cases, and other accessories. Moreover, acamera operator, and an assistant may also ride on the dolly, increasingthe total weight to over 250 kg. Consequently, the dolly operator(s)must often push the dolly with significant force. At the same time, thedolly operator generally must also continuously watch the path of thedolly movement, look for cues from the camera crew, target marked floorpositions, etc. As a result, dolly operation can be difficult. Push barsand similar accessories are sometimes used to help the dolly operatorsmaneuver the dolly. However, regardless of these accessories, the dollyoperator steering the dolly generally must still push or pull forcefullyon the steering handle while moving the dolly. The steering handle is ata fixed height of about 88 cm for use of an operator having a height ofabout 175 cm. However, taller dolly operators usually prefer to have ahigher steering handle. Accordingly, it is also an object of theinvention to provide a camera dolly where the steering handle height maybe changed to the user's preference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, an adapter for a steering handle of acamera dolly includes a first part and a second part attached to thefirst part in a way that allows for angular adjustment between them.This allows the steering handle to be aligned or squared up relative tothe dolly chassis.

In a second aspect, the first part may be an adapter base and the secondpart may be a riser. The adapter base may have a flange with slottedholes alignable with holes in the riser. Fasteners, such as cap screws,extending through the slots and holes, may be loosened to allow angularmovement between the adapter base and the riser. Once properly aligned,the fasteners are tightened. Grooves, openings, pins, or similarengagement features may be provided at the top end of the adapter base,to allow a steering handle to attach to, and to rotate with, the adapterbase. A bore may extend through the adapter base and the riser, with afitting on the riser adapted to engage with a steering system in thecamera dolly. When installed on a camera dolly, the adapter allows thesteering handle to align as desired. The adapter also raises thesteering handle up, to allow for ergonomic use by a taller dollyoperator.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description. This description and the accompanyingdrawings are provided as an example, and should not be taken as alimitation on the scope of the invention. The invention resides as wellin the combination of a camera dolly and a steering handle adapter, andin methods of using a steering handle adapter with a camera dolly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings the same reference number indicates the same element ineach of the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art camera dolly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering handle of the camera dollyshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic section view of the steering handle shown in FIG.2, with the handle removed from the dolly for illustration.

FIG. 4A is a section view of the steering handle engaged with a steeringsystem of the camera dolly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a section view of the steering handle of FIG. 1 removed fromthe camera dolly for illustration.

FIG. 5 is front view in part section of the present steering handleadapter in use with dolly and steering handle shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the ring used with the steering handle adaptershown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the adapter riser shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the adapter riser shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the collar nut shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the collar nut shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the riser tang collar shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is top view of the riser tang collar shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is section view of the adapter base shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the adapter base shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is section view of the shift rod extension shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is a top view of wrench for use with the handle adapter shown inFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1-4B, a prior art cameradolly 30 has a chassis 32 and an arm 34. A camera 36 may be supported ona camera platform 38 at the upper end of the arm 34. The chassis 32 mayhave articulated legs 40, with wheels 46 rotatably attached to a kingpin48 on each of the legs 40.

The dolly 30 has a steering system 50 largely contained within thechassis 32. The steering system may provide corrective steering; crabsteering, round steering, or any combination of these steering modes,including all three steering modes. The steering system is operated by asteering handle assembly 44. The steering handle assembly 44 includes asteering bar 52 that may allow for shifting between steering modes, byturning the steering bar about a horizontal axis. The steering bar mayalso allow for directional steering (changing the steering direction ofthe wheels 46) by turning the steering bar about a vertical axis.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the steering handle assembly 44 includesa shift rod 62 that engages with the steering system 50. As it is turnedabout a horizontal axis, the steering bar 52 drives the shift rod 62vertically, to shift between steering modes. The shift rod is capturedat the top end of the steering handle assembly with a knob 58. The shiftrod 62 is largely contained within a handle shaft 54. A tang collar 66is attached to the handle shaft 54. Tangs 68, or similar features,engage with a drive fitting or receptacle 70 in the steering system 50,so that steering movement of the handle assembly 44 correspondinglyactuates the steering system 50. A threaded collar 64 secures the handleassembly onto the fitting 70. An example of a dolly and steering systemis provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,642, incorporated herein byreference.

In the design as described above, the orientation of the steering bar isfixed relative to the drive fitting 70 of the steering system. Ifsteering bar 52 moves out of alignment with the steering system, thenwhen the wheels 46 are at the zero degree position (straight ahead), thesteering bar 52 can be several degrees displaced from the zero degreeposition. This mis-alignment can make it difficult for an operator tosteer the dolly 30, because the geometry is altered, and the operatingfeel of the dolly is disturbed. In addition, in many camera dollies,shifting between steering modes can only be achieved with the steeringsystem in the zero degree position. If the steering bar 52 ismis-aligned with the steering system 50, the dolly operator may be ableto easily determine when the steering system is in the zero degreeposition. As a result, the dolly operator may have difficulty in quicklyand smoothly shifting between steering modes, especially when precisedolly maneuvering is required.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-14, the present steering handle adapter 100overcomes any mis-alignment effects by allowing the steering bar 52 tobe aligned with the steering system. As shown in FIGS. 5, 13 and 14, anadapter base 130 has a flange 132, a threaded neck 134, and a topsurface having tang grooves 136 (or similar features) adapted to engagewith the tangs 68 on the handle assembly 44. Slotted holes 135 extendthrough the flange 132, and can be aligned on a circle. A bore 138extends entirely through the adapter base 130. The threaded neck 134 isdesigned to engage with internal threads on the collar clamp 64 on thehandle assembly 44.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the adapter 100 also includes a riser 140having a through bore 148. The upper end of the riser 140 has threadedholes 144 that align with the slotted or elongate holes 135 in theadapter base. The holes 144 may be provided in a flange 142 on the riser140. Alternatively, through holes may be used. The riser 140 alsoincludes a shaft section 146. The flange 142 and the shaft section maybe different materials. For example, the flange 142 may be aluminumwhile the shaft section 146 may be steel.

As shown in FIG. 5, a ring 120 is positioned on top of the flange 132 ofthe adapter base 130. Cap screws or bolts 122 pass through holes in thering 120, through the slotted holes 135 in the adapter base 130, andengage into the threaded holes 144 in the riser 140. Alternatively, thecap screws 122 may engage with nuts below the flange 142 of the riser,and un-threaded clearance holes may be provided in the riser. Also asshown in FIG. 5, a recess or counter-bore 150 at the upper end of theriser 140 provides clearance for the lower end of the handle shaft 54.

Turning now to FIGS. 5, 11 and 12, a riser tang collar 160 hasprojections or tangs 162 designed to engage with the tang grooves orsimilar features in the drive fitting 70 of the steering system. Theriser tang collar 160 is irrotatably attached to the shaft section 146of the riser 140, for example via a pin 166. As shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and10, a riser nut 170 is positioned on or around the shaft section 146,between the riser collar 160 and the flange 142 of the riser 140. Thelower section of the riser nut 170 has internal threads that engage withthe threads on the drive fitting 70 of the steering system 50. Aninwardly extending radial flange 174 of the riser nut 170 overlies theriser collar 160. A bushing 172 within the flange 174 allows the risernut 170 to be tightened without binding.

In use, the handle assembly 44 is temporarily removed from the dolly 30by unscrewing the collar clamp 64 and the shift rod 62 from the drivefitting 70. The collar clamp may be unscrewed by hand, or using awrench, depending on the specific designs used. The shift rod 62 isunscrewed via the knob 58. The adapter 100 is then installed onto thedolly 30. The shaft section of the riser 140 is inserted into the drivefitting 70, with the tangs 162 engaging into the grooves in the drivefitting 70. The riser nut 170 is then tightened onto the threads of thedrive fitting 70. A wrench 186, as shown in FIG. 16, may be used forthis purpose.

The upper end 182 of a shift rod extension section 180, as shown in FIG.15, is threaded onto the lower end of the shift rod 62. The extensionsection 180 may include flatted sections to allow the extension section180 to be turned with a wrench. The handle assembly 44 is then installedonto the adapter 100. The lower end of the handle shaft 54 is insertedthrough the bore 138 in the adapter base 130 and bottoms out in thecounter-bore 150 at the upper end of the riser 140. The handle shaft ispositioned so that the tangs 68 on the tang collar 66 engage into thetang grooves 136 on the top end of the adapter base 130. The collarclamp 64 is then tightened onto the threaded neck 134 of the adapterbase 130. The shift rod is similarly tightened into place by turning theknob 58, to thread the lower end 184 of the shift rod extension 180 intothe drive fitting 70. The dolly 30 can then be fully operated via thehandle assembly 44 and the adapter 100.

To compensate for any mis-alignment between the handle bar 52 and thesteering system, the cap screws 122 attaching the adapter base 130 tothe riser 140 are temporarily loosened. This allows the handle bar 52 tobe freely turned about the vertical axis, without actuating the drivefitting 70. After the handle bar 52 is properly aligned, the cap screws122 are tightened. Generally, the handle bar 52 will properly align whenit is precisely perpendicular to a longitudinal/front to back axis ofthe dolly chassis and the transmission is at the zero degree position.The cap screws and the slotted holes are a means for squaring up or foraligning the steering handle relative to the chassis. Other equivalentmeans for squaring up include clamp, screw thread devices, cams, andlevers, all of which temporarily allow the steering handle to turn freeof the steering system.

The adapter 100 raises the vertical position of the handle bar 52 up bythe distance between the tang collar 66 and the riser collar 160. Thisdimension can be selected as desired when the adapter is manufactured.Typical dimensions used can provide for raising the handle bar 52 up byfrom about 6 to 30 cm. For taller dolly operators, this provides a morecomfortable and ergonomic position of the handle bar 52.

Thus, a novel steering handle adapter for a camera dolly has been shownand described. Various changes and modifications may of course be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Theinvention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the followingclaims, and their equivalents.

1. An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly, comprising: anadapter base having a top end and a bottom end; an adapter base torquefitting adjacent to the top end of the adapter base; an adapter flangeadjacent to the bottom end of the adapter base; a riser having a riserflange and a shaft section, with the riser flange attached to theadapter flange; a riser torque fitting collar attached to the shaftsection of the riser; and a riser nut on the shaft section of the riserbetween the riser torque collar and the riser flange.
 2. The adapter ofclaim 1 with the riser flange attached to the adapter flange via aplurality of slotted through holes circumferentially aligned on theadapter flange aligned respectively with holes in the riser flange, andfasteners extending through the holes in the adapter flange and throughthe holes in the riser flange.
 3. The adapter of claim 1 with the torquefitting comprising two or more tang grooves on the top end of theadapter base.
 4. The adapter of claim 1 with a riser bore extendingthrough the shaft section and the riser flange of the riser.
 5. Theadapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter base torque fitting and the risertorque fitting collar are complementary to each other.
 6. The adapter ofclaim 1 further comprising a shift rod extension associated with theriser.
 7. The adapter of claim 1 with the adapter base having a lengthL1 and the riser having a length L2, and further comprising a shift rodextension extending through the adapter base and the riser, with theshift rod extension having a length of about L1+L2.
 8. The adapter ofclaim 6 with the shift rod extension having male threads at a first endand complementary female threads at a second end opposite from the firstend.
 9. An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly, comprising:an adapter base having a top end and a bottom end; an adapter basetorque fitting adjacent to the top end of the adapter base; a riserhaving a shaft section; handle aligning means for irrotatably attachingthe adapter base to the riser, and for temporarily releasing the adapterbase to allow alignment of the steering handle; a riser torque fittingcollar attached to the shaft section of the riser; and a riser nut onthe shaft section of the riser.
 10. The adapter of claim 9 with thehandle aligning means including slotted holes in one or the adapter baseand the riser and fasteners extending through the slotted holes.
 11. Anadapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly comprising: an adapterbase having a top end and a bottom end, with an adapter bore extendingthrough the adapter base from the top end to the bottom end; an adapterflange at the bottom end of the adapter base, with a plurality ofslotted through holes circumferentially aligned on the flange of theadapter base; two or more tang grooves on the top end of the adapterbase; a riser having a riser flange including openings alignable withthe through holes in the adapter flange of the adapter base; and theriser having a shaft section attached to the riser flange, with a riserbore extending through the shaft section and through the riser flange; aplurality of fasteners attaching the adapter flange to the riser flange;a riser tang collar attached to the shaft section; and a riser nut onthe shaft between the riser tang and the riser flange.
 12. A cameradolly, comprising: a chassis; a steering system within the chassis; asteering handle having a first end fitting; a steering handle adapterhaving a first part and a second part attached to the first part andselectively releasable from the first part to allow the second part torotate relative to the first part; a second end fitting on the firstpart, with the first end fitting of the steering handle engaged with thesecond end fitting on the first part of the steering handle adapter; anda third end fitting on the second part engaged with the steering system.13. The camera dolly of claim 12 wherein the first end fitting has thesame size and shape as the third end fitting.
 14. The camera dolly ofclaim 12 wherein the second end fitting comprises a ring having twoV-shaped grooves.
 15. The camera dolly of claim 12 further comprising anut on the second part engageable onto a stud on the chassis for holdingthe third end fitting into engagement with the steering system.
 16. Thecamera dolly of claim 12 with one of the first and second parts having aplurality of circumferentially spaced apart slotted through-holes andfasteners extending through the through-holes and also through holes inthe other of the first and second parts.
 17. The camera dolly of claim12 further comprising a shift rod extending through the handle andconnected to a shift rod extension within the first and second parts,and with the shift rod extension connected to the steering system. 18.The camera dolly of claim 12 with: the first part comprising an adapterbase having an adapter flange with a plurality of slotted through holescircumferentially aligned on the flange of the adapter base; the secondpart comprising a riser having a riser flange including openingsalignable with the through holes in the adapter flange of the adapterbase; and the riser having a shaft section attached to the riser flange,and a plurality of fasteners attaching the adapter flange to the riserflange.
 19. An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly,comprising: a first part and a second part attached to the first partand selectively releasable from the first part to allow the second partto rotate relative to the first part; a second end fitting on the firstpart, with the first end fitting of the steering handle engaged with thesecond end fitting on the first part of the steering handle adapter; anda third end fitting on the second part engageable with a steering systemof a camera dolly.
 20. A method of using a camera dolly, comprising:removing a steering handle from a steering system of the camera dolly;attaching an adapter to the steering system of the camera dolly;attaching a shift rod extension within the adapter to the steeringsystem of the camera dolly; attaching the steering handle to theadapter; attaching a shift rod within the steering handle to the siftrod extension; unlocking the adapter; rotating a first part of theadapter relative to a second part of the adapter to square up thesteering handle with dolly chassis; and locking the adapter to preventrotation of the first part of the adapter relative to the second part ofthe adapter.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising unlocking theadapter by un-tightening fasteners clamping the first part to the secondpart.